Web printing rotary press



June 21, 1932. H. M. BARBER WEB PRINTING ROTARY PRESS Filed June 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Jun 21, 1932. BARBER 1,864,166

WEB PRINTING ROTARY PRE SS Filed June 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 out of coaction between the Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE HOWARD M. BARBER,'OF PAWCATUCK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO C. B. CCTTRELL &

SONS COMPANY, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, A

WEB PRINTING- Application filed June16,

The object of my invention is to provide novel means for prlnting successively on the web with predetermined spacings between the impressions Within the range of the press.

My invention comprises, generally, means for bringing the form and impression cylinders into coactionduring the printings and printings.

y invention furthermore includes a mechanism in which the form cylinder may have a circumference equal to or less than the maximum length of form and spacing.

My invention also includes means whereby the mechanism for bringing the form and impression cylinders into and out of coaction during and between the printings respectively may be rendered inoperative, when desired.

y invention also comprises, in a printing press of the above character, web advancin means operable to pass the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, according to the required spacings between the impressions.

My invention more particularly comprises, in a printing press of the above character, alternately acting web advancing units 10 cated respectively on the delivery and feeding-in sides of the printing couple for controlling the passage of the web therethrough; the web advancingunit on the delivery slde of the printing couple being driven by the printing couple at the surface speed thereof and the web advancing unit on the feeding-in side of the printing couple having a variable speed drive therefor to permit said unit to be driven at the same surface speed as the printing couple or at lesser speeds.

My invention also above character,

web supply and includes, in a press of the a change gear drive for the take-up units, the web supply units serving to drive the webadvancing unit on the feeding-in side of the printing couple through the above mentioned variable speed drive.

Two practicalembodiments of-my invention are represented in the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatic side elevation of one embodiment of my invention a as provided for in press and having conrona'rron or nmwm ROTARY rnnss 1931. Serial No. 544,717.

in which so much of a web printing rotary press is shown as will standing of my invention; the parts being shown in the positions they assume just before the web advancing unit on the feeding-in side of the printin couple releases control of the web andjust efore the web advancing unit on the delivery side of the printing couple takes control of the web to pass it through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printing operation, the form cylinder being in its lowered position, the form cylinder in this instance making two revolutions for each cycle of the press; I

Fig; 2 represents a diagrammatic detail top plan view of the cam mechanism for controlling the alternate action of the drop rolls of the webadvancing units;

Fig. 3 represents a diagrammatic top plan view of the variable speed drive for the web advancing printing couple; and

' Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, of another embodiment of my invention,'the form-cylinder in this instance being shown as two-th1rds of the diameter of the form cylinder shown in Fig. 1 and as making three revolutions for each cycle of the press, instead of two revolutions the embodiment illustrated in said Fig, 1. y

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the form and impression cylinders of the web printingcouple are denoted by 1 and 2 respectively, the form 0 linder in this instance making two revolutions for each cycle of the a circumference less than gth of the formand spacing,

rom the structure disclosed the maximum len as distinguished in my 1931. Ser1al No. 543,288, in which the 'ircumference of the form cylinder is equ to the maximum length of the form and spa ing andthe form cylinder rotates one revolution for each cycle of the press.

A suitable inking mechanism 3 is rovided for the form 4- on the cylinder 1, which'form may be of any desired length.

The form and impression cylinders may he give a clear underunit on the feeding-in side of the 9o copen'ding application filed June 10, I

. supply drive shaft 5 driven at a' constant speed from the main drige shaft 5 through t e trainof gears 6, 7 an 8.

The web is denoted by 9, its supply roll by 10 and its re-wound roll by 11. The web unit is shown as comprising the web feeding rolls 12, 13 and 14. The web take up or re-windmg umt is shown as comprislng the rolls 15, 16 and 17. These two units are driven at selected speeds, according to the form spacings, from the gear 18 on the main through the change gear 19 and the gears 20, 21 and 22; the roll 13 of the web supply unit being driven from the gear 22 through the gear 23, shaft 24 and gears 25, 26, while the roll 17 of the web take-up unit is driven from the gear 22 through the gear 27, shaft 28 and gears 29, 30.

Alternately acting web advancing units are provided on the opposite sides of the printing couple. The web advancing unit on the feeding-in side of the printing couple comprises a web feed roll 31 and its coacting drop roll 32. The roll 31 is driven at the required speed to control the spacing lengths, from the web supply unit, through a variable speed drive either at the surface speed of the printing couple or at predetermined lesser surface speeds, according to the spacing lengths required between the impressions. In the present instance the variable speed drive is shown as the well known Reeves drive, its pulley 33 being driven through a belt 34 from the pulley 35 on the shaft of the web feed roll 14. The pulley 36 on the shaft of the roll 31 is driven by a said variable speed drive.

. The drop roll 32 is brought into coaction with its web feed roll 31 at the proper time to control the passage of the web through the printing couple during the spacing periods between the printings. In the present instance it is mounted on one arm 39 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 40, of which is provided with a rod 41 which carries a stud or roller 42 traveling in a box cam 43 on a cam shaft 44, which shaft is driven from the shaft of the impression cylinder 2, through the gears 45, 46.

The web advancing unit on the delivery side of the printing couple comprises a,web feed roll 47 and its ooacting drop roll48. The web feed roll 47 is driven at all times at the surfacehspeed of the printing coupleprovided with a rod- 53 which carries a stud belt 37 from the pulley 38 of the or roller 54 traveling in a box cam 55 on the cam shaft 44.

A tension device 56 of any well known or approved formis provided for the web as it passes to the re-winding roll.

The means which I have shown for bring ing the form and impression cylinders into coaction during the printings and out of coaction between the printings, is as follows:

The journal box 57 for each'end of the shaft 58 of the form cylinder is vertically movable, a spring 59 tending to lift the journal box 57 to raise the form cylinder out of contact with its impression cylinder. An eccentric cam 60 in engagement with the top of the journal box 57 is carried by a rock shaft cylinder its first revolution and out of coac-.

tion with the impression cylinder its second revolution. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the form cylinder is brought into coaction with the impression cylinder on its first revolution and out of coaction on its second and third revolutions. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the form cylinder which is shown as two-thirds the diameter of the form cylinder illustrated in Fig. 1, is denoted by 1 and it is driven from the gear 7 of the impression cylinder through the gear 8*. Also, in this form, the cam 68 is substituted for the cam 68, illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is also to beunderstood that the web travels at the same surface speed as the form and impression cylinders during the printings whether the spacings belonger or shorter and also that when the maximum spaclngs are beingus'ed the web also travels at the same surface speed as the form and impression cylinders at all times. However, when shorter spacings between the impressions on the web are required the relative speeds of the rolls in the web supply unit and the rolls in the web advancing unit at the feeding-in side of the printing couple are such as to cause the web to accumulate between the said units when the rolls 31 and 32 have control of the web, in an amount suflicient to permit the speed of the web to be accelerated by the coaction of the rolls '47 and 48 through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings.

The drop rolls 32 and 481 of the two web and passed advancingunits are alternately lifted by their respective cams 43 and 55 so that the rolls 31 and 32 of :the web advancing unit on the feeding-in side of the printing'coup'le are caused to release the ,web

as the rolls 47 and 3? 1 illustrated makes 3. roll when the web 48 of the web advancingunit on the delivery side of the printing couple take control thereof, and vice versa, it being understood that the cam shaft 44 in both of the embodiments one revolution for each cycle of the press.

From the above description it will be seen that the web advancing rolls 31 and 32 are caused to travel'at speed which is slower than that of therolls 12, 13 and 14 on all except the maximum spacin s for which the press is designed. h

- There ore, the means for controlling the passage of the web through the rinting couple causes the web to travel with the form and impression cylinders during the successive printings of the web at the same s eed where the maximum spacings are required.

Where lesser spacings are required the speed of the web is retarded between the printings, the surface speed of the web advancing rolls 31 and 32 being adjusted by the variable speed drive to suit the required lesser spacing len hs between the impressions. It will be un erstood that the .rolls 47 and 48 of the web advancing unit at the delivery side of the printing couple are always driven at the same surface speed as the printin couple..-

It will also be seen that the sur ace speeds of the web supply unit rolls and the web takeup unit rolls may be adjusted for each form spacing as required, by the change gear drive therefor, thetake-up rolls being driven at a speed which will is placed under the tension by the tension device 56.

It will be evident that the mechanism for bringin the form'fland impressione linders into an .out of coaction during and tween the printings respectively, may be rendered inoperative, when desiredfby removing the gear 71,;for instance. I

, It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in theconstructiomform and arrangement of the several p arts without de f parting from the spirit andscope of'my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodimentsherein shown and described, but

What I claim is 1. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, web advancing means for passing the web through the'printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the'form and lmpression cylinders into coaction during the printings and out of coaction between the printings.

2. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, the

form cylinder having a circumference less 7 than the maximum length of form and spacflng, web advancing means for passing web through the printing couple at thesura predetermined surface" mg couple driven at ensure a perfectly wound proper 7 cycle of the press.

face speed thereof during the printings and at the sameor lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form I and impression cylinders into coaction dur- 3. In a web ing couple driven at a constant speed, web advancing means for I through'the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and-at t e same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and impression c linders into coaction on one revolution 0 the form cylinder and out of passing the web coaction on another revolution thereof in the cycle of the press.

4. In a web printing rotary press, a printa constant speed, the form cylinder having a circumference less than the maximum length of form and spacing, web advancing means for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and impression cylinders into coaction on one revolution of of coaction on the cycle of the 5 In a web ing couple driven at a constant advancing means another revolution thereof in press.

speed, web for passing the web through the rinting couple at the surface speed thereo during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and coaction on one cylinder and out of impression cylinders into revolution of the form coaction on other- In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a form cylinder having a than the maximum lengthof form and spacing, web advancing means for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and impression revolution of theform cylinder and outof coaction on other revolutions thereof in the cycle of the ress.

7 In a we printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at advancing means for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or' lesser speeds between the printings, and means for moving the form cylinder into coaction with the impression cylinder'during the printings and. out: of coaction therewith between the printings.

8. In a web printing rotary press, a printcircumference less printing rotary press, a print-.

revolutions thereof in the constant speed, the

the form cylinder and out cylinders into coaction on one a constant speed, web

the web through the ing-couple driven at a constant speed, the form cylinder having a circumference less than the maximum length of form and spacing, web advancing means for passing the web through the rinting couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for moving the form cylinder into coaction with the impression cylinder during the printings and out of coaction therewith between the printings.

9. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, alternately acting web advancing units for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and atthe same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and impression cylinders into coaction during the printings and out of coaction'between the printings.

10. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a cd'nstant speed, the form cylinder having a circumference less than the maximum length of form and spacing, alternately acting web advancing units for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for bringing the form and impression cylinders into co action during the printings and out of coaction between the printings.

11. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, alternately acting web advancingunits for passing printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings, and means for moving the form cylinder into coaction with the impression cylinder during the printings and out of coaction therewith between the printings.

12. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, the form cylinder having a circumference less than the maximum length of form and spacing, alternately acting web advancing units for passing the web through the printing couple at the surface speed thereof during the printings and at the same or lesser speeds between the printings,and means for moving the form cylinder into coaction with the imprintings and out of coaction therewith between the print- 13. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed, the form cylinder having a circumference less than the maximum length of form and spacing, and web advancing. means for passing the web through the printing couple at the surfacespeed thereof during the printings and at the same or printings.

lesser speeds between the ing the web therethrough at the surface speed thereof during the printings, another web advancing unit for passin the web through the printing couple at t speeds between the printings, a variable speed drive for the second named web advancing unit, means for causing said web advancing units to act alternately on the web, and means for bringing the form and impression cylinders into and out of coaction.

16. In a web printing rotary press, a printing couple driven at a constant speed,-tl 1e form cylinder having a circumference less e same or lesser than the combined maximum length of form and spacing, a web advancing unit driven by the couple for passing the web therethrough at the surface speed thereof during the printings, another web advancing unit for passing the web through the printing couple at the same orlesser speeds between the printings,

a variable speed drive for the second named web advancing unit, means for causing said web advancing units to act alternately on the web, and means for bringing the form and .impression cylinders into and out of coaction.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoingas my invention, I have signed my name this 9th day of June, 1931.

HOWARD M. BARBER. 

